Hobby-horse.



A. W. SWENDER.

HOBBY HORSE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1912.

1 8B 185; Patented Feb. 24, 191i I Attorneys UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT W. SWENDER, OF ST. :OUIS, MISSOURI.

v noBnY-Honsn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 191-1.

Application filed July 22,1912. Serial No. 710,935.

To all who: it may concern:

Be it known that- I, ALBERT V. SWENDFlR,

acitizen of the UnitedStates, residingat St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have 1n-' vented a new and useful Hobby-Horse, of

which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a wheel mounted toy of the hobby horse type, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novelj'conn'ection between the steering element and the wheel carrying member, whereby" the body of the toy may be permitted to tilt upon the support to which the body is pivoted, and upon; which the wheel carrying member 1S ]011I' naled for rotation.

lVith the above and other objects in view invention herein disclosed can be made with-.'

in the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

i this application comprises a support 61.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 shows in perspective, a wheel mounted toy of the hobby horse type in which the present invention is embodied; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a toy constructed in accordance with the present invention, the body portion of the device being depicted in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the support and attendant parts,the body portion of the structure having been removed; Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing, in spaced re- .lation. the lower end of the steering element and theupper end of the wheel carrying member; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, the cutting plane being passed along the upper end of the wheel carrying member and through the lower end of the steering element; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing one means whereby the wheel carrying member may be journaled upon the support.

- The toy forming the subject matter oi body 24 shown in the present instance as resembling a horse, is locatedabove the sup; port 61. Intermediate its ends, the body 2-1 is pivoted as indicated at to the support 61, the construction being such that the body 24 may have a slight tilting movement in a vertical plane.

to the side walls 16 and held in place by carrying member with the support 61.

The invention further includes a whecl carrying member, this wheel carrying member being a composite structure. The wheel carrying member includes a box like head 14, shown best in Fig. 4, the head 14 comprising a top plate 15, a bottom plate 18 and side Walls 1.6 connecting the top plate with the bottom plate. The wheel carrying member further includes forks 12, applied screws 17 orin any other suitable manner.

vA propulsion wheel 10 is'journaled in the lower ends of the forks 12 of the wheel i carrying member and is actuated by pedals 1 1. The wheel carrying member above de- -..=scribed is journaled upon the support 61 so thatthe wheel 10 may be moved laterally to permit the vehicle to be steered. Any common and wellknown means may be provided for operatively connecting the wheel One such means is shown in Fig. 6, and is indicated at 62, a specific description of this feature of the device being unnecessary, since the same, specifically considered, forms no part of the present invention.

The invention further. includes a steering element which is journaled in the body 24 for rotation on a. fixed axis, meaning thereby that the steering element rotates in the body, but does not have a swinging or lateral movement, independent of the movement of the body.

The steering element is a composite structure and includes a shaft 21 mounted to romm in the. body 24, as will be understood best from Fig. 2. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 21' is a handle bar 22. In the lower'face of the body 24 there is formed a recess 25. Secured to the body 24 at the upper end of the recess 25 is a thrust plate 27 through which the shaft 21 passes. -A collar 26 is secured to the shaft 21 and is adapted to rotate along with the shaft 21 in the body 24, the collar 26 being located 106 slidably interfitting parts interengaged for 105 simultaneous rotation and for relative tilting movement. One of these slidably interfitting parts is represented by rectangularly disposed wings 28 formed upon the lower end of the shaft 21. These wings 28 may be 110 described as a polygonal portion of the shaft 21, or, under a slightly different intersecting slots 19 and 20. In these slots 19'and 20, the wings 26 are loosely received. 'The slots 19 and 20 constitute a'polygonal opening in the wheel carryin member and .c nsidered more specifically, this opening is f cruciform outline.

J ournaled for rotation in the rear, lower end of the support 21 is an axle or shaft 29, carrying rear wheels 30. A means is pro vided for rocking-the body 24 upon the support 61, and this means includes a crank 29 formed in the axle or shaft 29, there being a pitman 31 forming an operative connection between the shaft 29 and the body 24.

25 In practical operation, when the wheel 10 is rotated by means of the pedals 11, the structure will be advancedalong the ground. When the rear wheels are rotated by contact with the ground, the shaft 29 will be 30 rotated in the support 21 and, through the medium of the crank 29* and-the pitman 31, a rocking movement will be imparted to the body 24, the latter tilting upon its pivotal connection 60 with the support 61.

Owing to the fact that the thrust plate 27' is securedto the body 24, owing to the fact that the collar 26 is located above the thrust plate, and owing to the fact that the wings 28 are located below the thrust plate, the

shaft 21 which constitutes a part of the steering element, does not slide vertically in the body 24 when the latter is tilted or rocked. The wings 28, -however, which are formed upon the lower end of the shaft 21 fit loosely in the slots 19.20 ofthe head 14 {which constitutes a part of the. steering member, and therefore it will be seen that the body 24 may betilted, without breaking the operative. connection between the steer- ;'50' ing element and the wheel carrying member.

Therefore, while the body 24 is bein tilted,.

in the manner hereinbefore set orth, a

lateral, steering movement may be imparted to the forward wheel 10 through the following train of elements: the handle bar 22,

' the shaft 21, the wings 28, the head 14 (having intersecting slots 1920 which receive the wings 28) and the forks '12.

W hatis claimed is 1. In a toy of the wheel-mounted hobbyhorse type, a support; a body pivoted to the support; a wheel-carrying member journaled on the support a steering element journaled in the body for rotation on a fixed axis; and slidablyinterfitting parts upon the steering element and upon the Wheelc'arrying member interengaged for simultaneous rotation and for relative tilting movement.

2. Ina toy of the wheel-mounted-hobby horse type, a support; a body pivoted to the support; a wheel-carrying member journaled on the support; a steering element journaled in the body for rotation on a fixed axis; slidablyv interfitting parts 'upon the steering element and upon the wheel-carrying member interengaged for simultaneous rotation and for relative tilting movement; and means for rocking the body upon the support.

3. In a toy of the wheel-mounted hobbyhorse type, a support; a body pivoted-to the support; cooperating parts comprising a wheel-carrying member journaled on the support and a steering element journaled in the body, one of which cooperating parts is provided with a polygonal opening, the other of which cooperating parts is provided with a polygonal portion registering against rotation in the opening and for sliding and for tiltin movement therein.

4. In a toy of t e wheel-mounted hobbyhorse type, a support; a body pivoted to the support; a wheel-carrying member journaled on the support and provided with a polygonal opening; and a shaft journaled in the body, the shaft having a polygonal x end registering against rotation in the-o ening and engaged in the opening for sli ing and for tilting movement. v

5. In a toy of the wheel-mounted hobbyhorse type, a support; a body pivoted to the support; a wheel-carrying member journaled in the body; and a shaft journaledin the body, the shaft having a cruciform end and the wheel carrying member having a cruciform slot in'which the cruciform end is loosely received. a

In testimon that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I ave hereto. aflixed my s1gnature in the presence of two witnesses,

ALBERT W. SWENDER. 

